Hello all,
Spent a few hours birdwatching this morning without my camera to
reacquaint myself with the simplicity of looking at birds without the
technical complications of trying to photograph them. I had a great
relaxed time- I recommend all photographers do it every now and again.
First I visited the northern end of the Peter Murrell Conservation
Reserve (south of Kingston, south of Hobart, Tasmania). Highlights here
were a pair of 40-spotted Pardalotes, a Beautiful Firetail and the usual
honeyeaters including Black-headed Honeyeater, Yellow-throated
Honeyeater, New Holland Honeyeater, Crescent Honeyeater, Yellow
Wattlebird, Brush Wattlebird, Eastern Spinebill. Some Black-headed
Honeyeaters had m excited for a little while as they were calling like
Swift Parrots seemingly in response to the close approach of a Grey
Butcherbird. I'm still learning the Tassie bird calls.
I then visited the Truganini Reserve at Taroona (south of Hobart) and
had a look for the Masked Owl that roosts here occasionally. I still
haven't seen this owl despite their having been many who have been
fortunate enough to see it. I have however, found pellets on most visits
although there were none of these today either. Clearly it has multiple
roost sites.
Not much to report on the Masked Owl front yet. I did see a white phase
bird at a place called Woodstock on the Huon River a while back. White
as a Barn Owl but with a muscular physique. It was on a fencepost in
open farmland- probably watching for rodents or bandicoots. Its a pity I
couldn't photograph it as it was on a bend on a dirt road.
I'm getting a good mix of birds in the back yard at Ranelagh (near
Huonville, south of Hobart). Flame Robins are commonly around now. The
Tasmanian Native-hens often entertain me with their antics in the
paddocks around my house. Apart from their cacophony of song (sounds
like saws through old-growth timber) they have scraps often involving
3-4 birds, where they leap into the air and into each other. They then
follow this with mad chases up and down the hilll and through the apple
orchard. Its fun to watch. They are pretty good on their feet- essential
I suppose when you can't fly.
Cheers
Mick
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Michael Todd
Wildlifing- Images of Nature- www.wildlifing.com
Ranelagh, Tasmania
Latest Additions: Updated Nonpasserines Gallery
Mobile: o41o 123715
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